Redbox Promo Code Gift Cards

I needed a couple of small Christmas gifts this year and wanted to do something a little different than give gift cards. I purchased some Redbox movie promo codes here (emailed them to myself), then using Photoshop and digital design elements from Echo Park, I made these coupon booklets. I printed the designs on heavy cardstock and then trimmed them to 3" x 4.25".  I used my Bind-It-All and added a charm to finish them. Cute, quick and easy!

Here's a few pictures of some of the elements I used:

Echo Park "Let it Snow" collection ...

Echo Park "Tis the Season" collection ...

Thanks for stopping by ...

I'm Thinking of You ...

Here's a quick card using a Hero Arts stamp set. 
It's 5.5" x 5.5", scored to create a square pattern.  The images were colored with Copic markers and the sentiment from a Close To My Heart Cricut bundle stamp set.

Copic colors:

RV000, RV02, RV04; YR00, YR02, YR07; BG10, BG13, BG15; BV00, BV02, BV04; YG11, YG13, YG17; Y02, Y08; B000, B00.

It didn't photograph well, but I brushed a little Wink of Stella on the images ... it added a really nice shimmer.

I finished by making a matching envelope.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Graduation 2016

It's that time of year ... Graduation! Here's a couple of cards I've made for the graduation party season.

For Taylor:

This is a 4.25" x 5.5" card. The images are stamps from Papertrey Ink's 'Filled with Joy' stamp set ... I used a variety of Papertrey dye inks. I used a little clear Wink of Stella on the center of each of the flowers. It's hard to see in the photo, but it added a really nice shimmer. The sentiment is from one of the Close To My Heart Cricut bundle stamp sets, embossed with white embossing powder. The aperture was cut with a Nestabilities die and I used craft foam to pop up the stamped layer.  The envelope was made using piece of paper from Echo Park's Be Mine collection and the Stamping' Up Envelope Punch Board (my new favorite thing!).

For Nick:

This card is 5"x 5". The designer paper is from the DCWV 'The High School' Stack. The dark gray layer was embossed with the 'Diamond Plate' Cuttlebug folder. I stamped the light gray layer with the Stampendous '2 Grad Cap' stamp and embossed it with American Crafts Zing Pewter embossing powder, then cut it out using a Nestabilites die and popped it up using black craft foam. I finished by making an envelope with a random piece of gray textured card stock.

I'm happy with both of these and ready for the parties!!

Thanks for stopping by ...

I Got a Little Carried Away ...

Happy Birthday Jane

Trash to Treasure

My daughter and I altered this old window for her to use in the main bathroom in her home. We use vinyl from Expressions Vinyl and my Cricut Explore. The fonts used are 'Bubblegum Sans' and 'Dancing Script', and the swirl is from the Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge. It was a quick and simple project, but with impressive results ... makes me look more talented than I really am!

Here it is hanging in her bathroom. Yeah, that bright orange wall will really wake you up in the morning!

Thanks for stopping by ...

I'm Still Making Gift Boxes ...

Well, it seems I've gotten away from posting on my blog, but I'm still crafting! I thought I'd share another gift box that I've made. The cuts are all from the New Arrival ... it's one of my all-time favorite Cricut cartridge.

Here's a look at the gift inside. I made a set of flannel & chenille burp cloths and flannel receiving blanket with a crocheted edging. And there's also a little gift card tucked inside.

I have a few more projects I'd like to share. I'll try to post those soon. I think I've missed my little blog!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Keep Calm Notebook

Here's a quick project: I created the artwork using digital images and Photoshop, then had it printed through an on-line print service. So, basically, it's a 5"x7" photo. I adhered the artwork to a piece of thin cardboard (from a paper stack) and used another piece for the back cover. I rounded the corners, added some notebook paper and bound it with my Bind-it-All. To finish, I tied on a some white tulle, a ribbon and a cute little teapot charm ... easy-peasy! I see lots more of these in my future.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Wow ... I've Been Away For A While

Last fall and the holiday season were really busy for me ... both personally and at work. I did quite a bit of crafting, but just didn't take the time to update my blog. One of the things I got caught up in was some hybrid crafting and digital crafting. I took a couple of classes at JessicaSprague.com and fell in love with PhotoShop. Don't get me wrong ... I'm still a "hands-on" papercrafter, but the digital world is cool, too. My favorite, by far, has to be digital art journaling. Here's a page I made as part of the art journaling class I took from Jessica and Nancie Rowe Janitz:

The background art and the bird are from a collection of digital elements created by Nancie, check out her website. I have lots more to share with you and hope to have it posted the next few weeks!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #15 ... Think Winter

Hello everyone, are you ready for another challange from the Cricut 360° Challenge Blog? This week we're doing 'white-on-white' projects.

For my card, I started with a 5.5" x 5.5" base then added a layer embossed with the Snow Burst embossing folder. To highlight the embossing, I rubbed on a little White Frost shimmer paint. Both the embossing folder and the shimmer paint are from Stampin' Up. Then I tied on some white tulle and satin ribbon. The skates are from the Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge ... cut a 3.25". I sprinkled the blades with Martha Stewart coarse glitter, swiped more of the shimmer paint on the boots and finished them with some pearls and embroidery thread. It still looked a little plain, so I added the ribbon and snowflake charm. All in all, I'm pleased with this one, even though it didn't photograph very well ... it's one of those that looks better 'in real life'.

Now, here's a second card. Actually, I made this card first ... then I re-read the challenge requirements and realized that there isn't supposed to be any 'color' in the project. For this card I used a kraft base, inked all the edges with Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy distress ink and used a kraft/white bakers twine for the laces. The sentiment is from My Pink Stamper's Winter Punnies set.

I like that you can get two very different cards using the same basic elements!!

So, now it's your turn. Link your project at the Cricut 360°Challenge Blog.  ... I'd love to see your project!!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Blog Candy Winner

Thanks to all who participated in the Cricut 360° Blog Spooky Halloween Blog Hop! First, I need to apologize for being so late in posting my blog candy winner ... this week has been just crazy and this is the first opportunity I've had to post. Now, without further delay, the winner of the blog candy is:

#35 DIANA L. said...

Love this card and the googly eyes are great
DIANA L.

Congratulations Diana ... I'll have your goodies in the mail and on their way to you soon!!

Cricut 360° Blog ... Spooky Blog Hop

Welcome to the Cricut 360° Blog Spooky Blog Hop. If you got here from Sonya's blog, then you're on the right track. If you've just popped in, you might want to start here ... this is where you'll find a list of all the blogs in our Spooky Halloween Blog Hop. And, of course we have some blog candy up for grabs ... a Freshly Picked Cricut cartridge. 

To be entered to win, visit all the blogs and collect the "key" words ... they'll reveal this week's challenge. Then make a challenge project and link it on the Cricut 360° Blog ... how fun is that!!

Now, here's my project:

My card is a 5.5" x 5.5" square. I love the colors in this ... the orange and green papers are from DCWV and the spider web paper is from Echo Park. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Halloween card without the classic Halloween colors of purple and black, so I added those colors with a big, floppy seam binding bow. My cute little spider was cut using the Doodlecharms Cricut cartridge. I embossed her with several coats of UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel). Before she cooled completely, I bent her legs down so she looks like she's standing. And don't you just love those flirty lashes and googly eyes ... perfect for the My Pink Stamper sentiment.

Now it's time for you to hop on over to Heather's blog. I know she'll have something fabulous to share with you!! But, before you go ... here's a little blog candy I'm offering:

If you would like to be entered for a change to win, just leave a comment with a way to contact you. I will use Random.org to select a winner on Oct 19th and I will ship worldwide.

Finally, my key word is COLORS ... remember to link up your project for a chance to win!! 

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #13 ... Welcome Baby

Happy Friday everyone, it's time for another challenge at the Cricut 360° Blog. This week we're making something for babies.

My card this week is sweet and simple. The image was cut from the Wrap it Up cartridge and embossed with the Love Language embossing folder. I coated the wheels and trim with Glossy Accents and added ribbon, twine and buttons.

I hope you'll join us for this challenge ... I'd love to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #12 ... Native American Inspiration

Happy Friday! Are you ready for another Cricut 360° Challenge? This week, I'm keeping it simple. My image is a digital from Daisy's Digi Doodles. I printed it on kraft paper, colored it with Copics, then used a small paint brush and white craft ink to highlight the feathers. I added a drop of Glossy Accents to each of the beads to give them a little shine and texture. I layered this with papers from Stampin' Up and some twine, and then finished with a sentiment cut from the Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge.

Hope you like my little card ... now it's your turn. Visit the Cricut 360° Challenge Blog to see the design team's wonderful projects. Then link up your project ... I'd love to see what you create!!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #11 ... For A Hero

Welcome to another Cricut 360° Blog challenge. This week we are commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and making projects to recognize those who serve.

I love dogs, and I'm especially fond of working dogs, so I decided to make a card honoring the search and rescue dogs who worked at ground zero. I used Paper Pups, Stand and Salute, and Plantin Schoolbook (for the little white cross). The sentiment is computer generated and is the motto of Search and Rescue teams worldwide.

I hope you join us this week at the Cricut 360° Blog ... we have a special sponsor! 

Robyn from My Pink Stamper had donated one of her stamp sets, so link up your project for your chance to win "Freedom Rocks". Good luck and ...

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #10 ... Grandparents

Welcome to Challenge #10 for the Cricut 360° Blog. Grandparents' Day is September 11th, so we're making projects just for them.

For my card, I chose designer papers and cardstock from Stampin' Up and a flower from Art Philosophy. I cut the petals three times and layered them using large glue dots. I added some doodling, a big button and a little seam binding. The sentiment is a stamp from Pink By Design. All in all, it's a simple card, but I love the bright colors. Now, head on over to the Cricut 360° Blog to see what my design team sisters have come up with ... their projects are awesome, and be sure to link up your Grandparents' Day creation ... I look forward to seeing it!!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #9 ... Relax

Labor Day is September 5th and over at the Cricut 360° Challenge Blog we think it's time to relax.

For my relaxing card, I chose to use my new favorite cartridge ... Art Philosophy. If you haven't seen this cartridge, I highly recommend that you check it out ... it's amazing!!

The patterned papers are from Stampin' Up, the cardstock and sentiment stamp are from Papertrey Ink, and I added some faux stitching and self-adhesive pearls.

I used some netting to make a hammock. It didn't turn out quite like I imagined, but when I showed my card to a couple of friends, they recognized it as a hammock without any prompting ... so I guess it works!

Be sure to check out all the other 'relaxing' projects at the Cricut 360° Challenge Blog ... I know you'll love them. And I hope you get a chance to play along ... I'd love to see what you create!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #8 ... Back To School

Happy Friday! Here's my project for this week's Cricut 360° Blog challenge ... where we're headed "Back To School".

For my project, I decided to alter a notebook. I started with an inexpensive composition book and covered it with paper I printed using my Imagine and the Imagine More cartridge. Then I used my Gypsy with George & Basic Shapes to make the chalkboard frame and backed it with black cardstock. The font is from Lyrical Letters ... sized and welded with my Gypsy.

I added some frosted gems (from Martha Stewart), lots of ribbon and a cute little owl charm.

Of course, I needed an apple, so I went with the apple and books from Hello Kitty ... sometimes I forget what a versatile cartridge this is!

So, there you have it! Now it's you're turn ... head on over to the Cricut 360° Blog and show us your "Back To School" stuff!!

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #7 ... Old West

It's Friday, and you know what that means ... another Cricut 360° Blog challenge. This week we're headed out west to find our inner cowgirl!

For my card, I chose a digital image from Bombshell Stamps. They have great vintage images and I just love this cowgirl! I used PhotoShop Elements to change the line art color from black to brown, and then used Copics to color the image.  The patterned paper is from K & Company and the cardstock is from Papertrey Ink. The frames are from the Elegant Edges cartridge ... I used my Gypsy to size the frames to fit my card base. To make the tarnished gold frame, I cut the image from a cream colored cardstock, inked it first with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, then with a bronze color Ink Spot and finished with a spritz of Tattered Leather Glimmer Mist. I then ran it through my crimper to give it a some dimension. My image is pop-dotted and to finish, I added a little crochet thread and a metal star I found in a old jewelry box.

I added a computer generated sentiment to the inside of the card. It's a quote from Dale Evans ... it really brings back memories of watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on Saturday afternoon (I'm dating myself here!) and I thought it was perfect for my vintage style card.

Now it's your turn ... mosey on over to the Cricut 360° Blog and see the great projects my design team sisters have created. I hope you're inspired to join us this week.

Thanks for stopping by ...

Cricut 360° Blog Challenge #6 ... Refreshing

It's Friday and time for another Cricut 360° Blog challenge. It's been crazy hot so we're going to try to cool things down with some refreshing projects!

For my project, I tried to recreate one of my favorite things: an Olive Garden Italian Margarita. My, oh my ... they are yummy!

There are martini glasses on a couple of Cricut cartridges, but no margarita glasses, so I used my Gypsy to make my own. I welded an oval from Plantin Schoolbook to the top of the martini glass from Smiley Cards to create the margarita shape. I cut it two times, one from white cardstock and one from frosted Shrinky Dink material. I used a Copic marker to ink the frosted side. It's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but I inked the stem of the glass with a light blue Copic marker. I used Glossy Accents to adhere some clear Martha Stewart micro beads to the rim. Then I used more Glossy Accents (just on the side edges) to adhere the Shrinky Dink layer to the card stock layer.

I like my margaritas 'on the rocks', so I used more the of Shrinky Dink material to make ice cubes. The rounded squares are from George and Basic Shapes. I used my Gypsy to weld three together to form a base. Then I cut three separately. I inked the frosted sides with a light blue Copic marker, and then embossed them with the Tiny Mosaic Cuttlebug folder. I used clear dimensional dots to attach them to the base and slipped them in between the Shrinky Dink material and the cardstock. I like how they look like they're floating. Of course, every margarita needs a straw ... I used a pipe cleaner (slipped behind the white cardstock) to make mine!

The orange slice is from Preserves. It looked a little flat, so I glossed it up with a thin coat of Glossy Accents. For my sentiment, I used Thickers from American Crafts. They're actually yellow, so I inked them with the same Copic marker I used on the margarita.

Oh, and I guess I should tell you my card is a 6" x 6" square and the designer paper is from Stampin' Up. I hope you join us for this week's challenge ... I'd love to see your refreshing ideas!!

Thanks for stopping by ...